News

Colorado, USA, June 2, 2004 - The USA women’s national Team - part of it, anyway - begins the 2005 season on Thursday against Brazil in Denver, USA in the first match of a three-game friendly series. The second match between the two teams is slated for Saturday followed by the third on Monday.

Due to a pair of simultaneous international tournaments in Montreux, Switzerland (June 7-12) and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (June 10-18), the USA players have been split into two teams.

The team that departs for the Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland on Saturday will play the first match against the Brazilians in Denver. The squad that leaves on Wednesday, June 8, for the Pan American Cup will play the final two matches against Brazil in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.
Pic: Robyn Ah Mow-Santos sets as USA lose to Brazil during the Olympic quarterfinals last year
The matches in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs will also be the first for Team USA under new head coach “Jenny” Lang Ping. Lang Ping was named head coach on Feb. 7.

“The matches with Brazil will be a great test and prepare us for our upcoming tournaments since we have not had a lot of time to get the team together for training,” said Lang Ping. “It will also give us a good chance to get to know our players better in game situations.”

Three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist Paula Weishoff will serve as the head coach of the Montreux team, which features a trio of veterans: three-time Olympian Danielle Scott, two-time Olympian Robyn Ah Mow-Santos and 2004 Olympian Tayyiba Haneef.

Included among the 12 players on the Pan American Cup roster that will compete in Fort Collins and Colorado Springs are two 2004 Olympians—setter Lindsey Berg and opposite hitter Nancy Metcalf - as well as two alternates for the 2004 Olympic Team: outside hitter Cynthia Barboza and middle blocker Elisha Thomas.

USA teams:

Domestic Match vs. Brazil (June 2)

Danielle Scott, Tayyiba Haneef, Bryn Kehoe, Sarah Drury, Melissa Elmer, Kristin Richards, Kanoe Kamana’o, Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, Sophia Milo, Marcie Hampton,
Christina Houghtelling, Jennifer Hoffman. Head Coach: Paula Weishoff

Domestic Matches vs. Brazil (June 4 and 6)

Cynthia Barboza, Jane Collymore, Foluke Akinradewo, Lindsey Berg, Melissa Villaroman, Angie McGinnis, Patrice Arrington, Nancy Metcalf, Elisha Thomas, Nicole Davis, Jennifer Joines, Shonda Cole. Head Coach: “Jenny” Lang Ping